Note: this post is an edited and updated version of one that was originally posted in November of 2013. Pokémon is a copyright of The Pokémon Company International, Incorporated; all material here is fan writing and art, and not official material in any capacity.

Welcome to Okiwan! Found farther southeast than the nation of the Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh regions, this land is one of searing heat and pounding storms, vibrant coral reefs and shadowed mangrove wetlands, lowland swamps and soaring peaks, and above all else a vibrant tapestry of life. The Okiwani people have long struggled with the conflict of retaining the natural wealth of their country with the demands of a growing industrialized nation, managing to come out on top in spite of mistakes in the past. Continue reading →

Note: this post is an edited and updated version of one that was originally posted in November of 2013. Pokémon is a copyright of The Pokémon Company International, Incorporated; all material here is fan writing and art, and not official material in any capacity.

It all started in 2010. This was the first time I ever heard of “Fakemon” fanworks and the idea of creating fake Pokémon for fun. As my creative spirit basically works on ebbs and flows of being influenced by outside factors, I unsurprisingly started writing down Fakemon ideas of my own. These were quickly forgotten until the hype train and release of Pokémon X and Y in 2013, and has continued in an ebb and flow cycle ever since. This is never going to be a fan game or somehow ascend to the halls of Game Freak. It’s also not the best Fakemon project – for that, you should look at something like Pokémon Sage, Pokémon Ethereal Dreams, or the tumblr blog Fantastic Fakemon. What it was, though, was a random off-time creativity outlet for myself in writing them and artist DigitalSocrates (http://digitalsocrates.tumblr.com/) in drawing them out. DS has since been on a long hiatus, but I am nonetheless updating the original handful of posts on my new blog for posterity and out of the potential that it may live again in the future.

While things floated around for a little while on just what the region would be, a few things became clear early on. One: it would be Continue reading →

Creature Spotlight: Stegoceras (Dinosaur Husbandry Issue #2)

Stegoceras is widespread in both the prehistoric past and the human-made present, conveniently-sized, and easy to keep. Taking all of this into account, it’s of little wonder that so many paleozoos exhibit this wonderful dinosaur. Our second Creature Spotlight feature aims to cover this charismatic Cretaceous herbivore. Continue reading →

Creature Spotlight: Tyrannosaurus (Dinosaur Husbandry Issue #1)

One of the most famous – arguably the most famous – large theropod dinosaurs, the titanic Tyrannosaurus is a superstar in any paleozoological park that houses it. Almost everyone knows the story of the birth and maturation of the members of the famous Red Rock, River Runner, and Deadwood bands. But just how much work does it take to house the tyrant king? For our very first installment of the Creature Spotlight, we’ll be giving you a quick look at the husbandry of this massive predator. Continue reading →

Rappy here, with the first new series of dumb shit I do when I feel like it. This is more or less a random writing exercise for me, for when I don’t feel up to writing roleplaying game stuff with stats and rules and note-taking and all that jazz. I figured that rather than just writing them and leaving them dead and buried or just deleting them, I’d actively share them, because why not.

The Explanation

I’m not really sure how the idea came to mind. Considering it was some time between my last trip to a zoo and my viewing of Jurassic World, I can assume that those probably have something to do with it. Regardless of just what caused it, the idea that came out was to do thought exercises of a world where Jurassic Park-style prehistoric animal attractions are a very real thing, with the animals grounded in science even if the science wasn’t. The premise doesn’t really attempt to answer how you resurrect an extinct species, where zoos get the funding for their grounds and feed, or any sort of logistics. The idea was purely on the subject of the animals and their exhibits.

The “In-Universe” Story

Dinosaur Husbandry is one of the most popular magazines on the subject of palaeontological resurrection and the “paleozoos” that came about as a result of the practice. Its name is a holdover from early years of publication, when dinosaurs were the only subject matter – articles can now cover any creature from Cambrian oceanic fauna to Pleistocene mammals. Designed to bridge the gap between zoo staff and the viewing public, it aims to provide information that can be useful to both keepers and enthusiasts. Articles range from discussions of current trends in prehistoric zoo exhibits and major events in the practice to the hurdles keepers have to face in keeping prehistoric life and stories from behind the scenes workers such as exhibit designers and veterinarians. Articles that are the mainstay of each monthly issue are the Creature Spotlight and Zoo Spotlight, an article wherein a specific prehistoric animal and specific zoological park are covered, respectively. Thanks to public demand, Dinosaur Husbandry has begun to make its Species Spotlight articles free to the public in online format, giving a taste of what the magazine can provide. As a further service to those who already owned the issues in which these articles were printed, editorial notes (in red after paragraphs and denoted by asterisks) correcting now inaccurate information give even seasoned readers a reason to check out these archives.